John Council

January 13, 2003 | Texas Lawyer

Coming on the heels of political campaigns that spewed rhetoric about "greedy trial lawyers," the Texas Legislature's once-every-12-years review of the State Bar of Texas could provide a rough ride for the Bar's leaders. State Bar President Guy Harrison says he's "cautiously optimistic" about the sunset review process. And Gib Walton, a partner in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins who chairs the Bar's Sunset Special Committee, says he's not expecting major problems.

By Mary Alice Robbins and John Council

8 minute read

September 18, 2007 | Law.com

In an issue of first impression, Dallas' 5th Court of Appeal ruled that law firm Akin Gump could not reduce a $922,631 legal malpractice verdict against it by a 10 percent contingent fee because that "would reward its wrongdoing." However, the court held that the award should be reduced by $216,590, because attorney fees the former client paid to Akin Gump "are not recoverable as an element of damages" in a legal malpractice suit. That fees issue, according to one attorney, is "a mess in Texas."

By John Council

8 minute read

April 30, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

It has been a rough couple of weeks for two large Texas firms after intermediate appellate courts ruled that they are disqualified from representing clients because of unusual conflict-of-interest allegations.

By John Council

10 minute read

October 04, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Evan Stone (pictured) and his client would love to obtain the names of 670 Texas Internet users. Why? Because Stone wants to subpoena and eventually stop John Doe defendants who allegedly are copying and distributing his client's adult film via the Internet, according to a recent complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

By John Council

5 minute read

December 20, 2002 | Texas Lawyer

By John Council

4 minute read

October 28, 2005 | National Law Journal

Dozens of Texas lawyers and judges expended personal and political capital in recent weeks combating attacks against Harriet Miers' nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Their efforts failed. Former Texas Supreme Court Supreme Court Justice Craig Enoch is among those surprised at the turn of events, especially in light of his trip to D.C. with other former justices. "I thought they just needed us to get inside the Beltway and talk about her qualifications, which we handled pretty well," says Enoch.

By Miriam Rozen, John Council and Mark Donald

14 minute read

October 30, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Overgrown and overlooked, several spooky Texas courthouses haven�t had a lawyer or judge visit them for the better part of a century. Abandoned courthouses can be found all over rural south and west Texas.

By John Council

13 minute read

March 13, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Republican Toby Shook and Democrat Craig Watkins won their parties' nominations in the race for Dallas County district attorney.

By Mark Donald and John Council

12 minute read

June 01, 2005 | Law.com

After three nominations, four years of waiting and a U.S. Senate showdown that nearly required a change of a 200-year rule to assist her, the Senate finally confirmed Priscilla Owen for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week. A lightning rod for criticism, Owen is the record-holder for the longest wait for any judge to be confirmed to the 5th Circuit in modern history, according to two appellate court experts.

By John Council and T.R. Goldman

8 minute read

December 19, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has blessed a consumer bankruptcy lawyer's unusual way of securing his fees, ruling that he did nothing wrong in accepting advance payments in the form of a deposit, reversing part of the lower court decision.

By John Council

7 minute read